Czech Republic vs Albania Prediction: Hlozek to fill Schick-shaped hole

The Czech Republic recovered from a 4-1 defeat to Georgia in their first Uefa Nations League Group B1 game last month to beat Ukraine 3-2 three days later, and their latest assignment comes on Friday (19:45) at home to Albania, who opened up their campaign with a 2-1 victory in Ukraine but came a cropper in Tirana to Georgia (0-1).

Read below for my Czech Republic vs Albania prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this clash at epet ARENA in Prague.

Team News

The Czech Republic's number one goalkeeper at Euro 2024, Slavia Prague's Jindrich Stanek, hasn't featured since coming off injured in the 2-1 defeat to Turkey in their final group game. Bayer Leverkusen deputy and former Manchester United man Matej Kovar replaced Stanek against the Turks and played both internationals last month, so is the obvious candidate to start in goal again for the hosts.

Defenders Jaroslav Zeleny (Sparta Prague) and David Zima (Slavia Prague) have been forced to withdraw from Ivan Hasek's squad through injury, as has midfielder Matej Rynes (Sparta Prague), while Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen) has been left out to focus on getting his club career back on track.

Injuries at left wing-back could force Hasek to adopt a four-man defence, which is likely to feature national team stalwart Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United) at right-back. Coufal's club teammate, Tomas Soucek, scored the Czech Republic's third and final goal in their 3-2 victory over Ukraine last month and he is set to captain his country again.

Tomas Chory (Slavia Prague) started up top against Ukraine but faces competition this time around from Hoffenheim forward Adam Hlozek, who has scored three goals in his last three games, including a brace in a 2-0 win versus Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa League group stage earlier this month.

Football Odds

Experienced Atalanta defender Berat Djimsiti, who captains the Albania national team, has withdrawn from Sylvinho's squad through injury. The 31-year-old missed both internationals last month, however, so Albania should be set up to handle his absence. Ardian Ismajli (Empoli) partnered Marash Kumbulla (Espanyol, on loan from AS Roma) in central defence against Ukraine and Georgia, scoring in the victory over the former.

Elseid Hysaj (Lazio) is likely to skipper the side this month, and the 88-cap full-back is set to be joined on the field this Friday by Nedi Bajrami (Rangers), Kristjan Asllani (Inter Milan) and Ylber Ramadani (Lecce).

Forwards Armando Broja (Everton, on loan from Chelsea) and Rey Manaj (Sivasspor) are yet to recover from injury so it could be down to Myrto Uzuni (Granada) or Jasir Asani (Gwangju) to lead the line in Prague.

Czech Republic vs Albania Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Czech Republic vs Albania page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Friday's hosts are 4/6, or a 60% chance, to make it back-to-back wins in the Nations League, while Albania are 9/2 (18.2%) to pick up another three points on their travels. The draw, meanwhile, is priced at 11/4.

Both teams to score is available at 10/11 and over 2.5 total goals is also 10/11, while Chory leads the anytime goalscorer market alongside Borussia Monchengladbach's Tomas Cvancara (both 9/5).

Anytime Goalscorer - Adam Hlozek (CZE) @ 11/4

It's been a difficult couple of years for Hlozek, who struggled to make his mark at Bayer Leverkusen following his big-money move from Sparta Prague in 2022.

The 22-year-old scored five Bundesliga goals in his debut campaign but managed just two last season as Leverkusen romped to the title. Injuries restricted Hlozek's involvement, as did the terrific form of other attackers, and so he decided to switch to Hoffenheim in the summer, rejecting overtures from English Premier League side Leicester City in the process.

After a slow start, things appear to be looking up for the Ivancice-born attacker, who has started Hoffenheim's last four games, scoring against Werder Bremen and netting twice versus Dynamo Kyiv.

Hlozek only has two senior international goals for the Czech Republic, with the latest coming in June 2023 against Montenegro, but there is a real chance for him to stamp his authority on the national team this month in the absence of Schick.

It's touch-and-go whether he starts on Friday given the good form of others but I think his talent, coupled with his recent good form, stands him in good stead to play from the off in Prague.

If he does get the nod, I'm backing Hlozek to grab the opportunity with both hands and fire past Albania at the epet ARENA.

Both Teams to Score - Yes @ 10/11

Games involving the Czech Republic certainly haven't lacked entertainment - or goals - in 2024. Since the turn of the year, the Czechs have played nine times, and both teams have scored in all nine - a pretty staggering statistic.

On the one hand, firing past the likes of Portugal, Georgia and Turkey at Euro 2024 is impressive, but shipping five goals across those three games and finishing bottom of the group with just a solitary point certainly isn't.

A 4-1 defeat to Georgia last month was a real low point for the Czech Republic, who then conceded another two to Ukraine three days later, albeit they did win that contest. Their attempts to improve their defensive record aren't helped by injuries to the likes of Zima, and their visitors to Prague on Thursday, Albania, have found the net in five of their last seven games.

Albania were unfortunate to be grouped alongside Italy, Croatia and Spain at Euro 2024, with many tipping the Balkan nation to finish pointless. However, the Kuqezinjte drew 2-2 with Croatia and even took a first-minute lead in their tournament opener against Italy before being edged out 2-1 in Dortmund. Albania also scored twice in a victory over Ukraine last month, highlighting their attacking prowess.

Broja hasn't featured for his national team since the summer but his absence mattered little versus the Ukrainians as Asani struck the game's winning goal. The absence of Manaj is likely to be felt deeply, though, with pressure now piled on the shoulders of Asani in attack.

Albania were blunted by Georgia in Tbilisi last time out but despite the void left by Broja and Manaj, the disorganisation in the Czech defence should grant them opportunities to score, which I think they will take.

I can't see the visitors keeping a clean sheet either, though, as they have kept just one in nine games this calendar year - in a 3-0 success against international minnows Liechtenstein in June, while the Czech Republic have struck in their last 12 matches.

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